Lighter



Jan. 1, 1935.

L. C. BECK LIGHTER Filed Sept. 2, 1932 0 0wfi000000v I INVENTOR. A By [was 6.556%.

ATTORNEY.

moi-merchants.

PM Jan. 1, 1935 oFFics Inuh0.lleek, mama-sue,

sen-lane.

mam-mama 3 Gallo. (CI. 7-71) This invention relatu to automatic pocket liahters.

. 'Ihe'object o1 myinvention is to provide a lizhtercharacterisedbythetactthatthewickis 5 coniinedsolelywithinaperioratedtubeextendina iromthewicknozzleofthelizhtertothebottom oi the lighter case, thus avoiding theiwick becominacauahtor kinked'when'extractingorpulling on the wick at the noszle end thereof, which kinkingotthewickisaprscticalobjectiontomnd deiect'inJightersoitheconventionaltypewhereinthewickpassesthroushandoutoithelower endoiatuheandintotheiuelchamberoithe lighter case-to become entangled with the absorbentpackinsmaterialdepositedtherein.

Aiurtherobjectoitheinventimresidesinthe provisionot sperioratedwicktubewhichis-expansible diametrically, in order. that one tube williitoverthelowerendoivariomsisesoiwlck nozzle projections, thus being applicable for use wlthanypocket liahter.

A still further object of the invention residu inthe provision 01a perioi'stedwicktube which isheldinposition againstentbetween thetopoitheliahtercasinzsndthehottomthereof without having to be soldered or otherwise securedtoawicknoale projection.

A still further object o! theinvention is the pro-- an automatic pocket lighter which advantagesinpointsotsimplicityand emciency, and, at the same time proves itseli comparatively inexpensive. in cost oi manufac- Withtheaboveandotheroblecfiinviemthe invention consists in the novel'ieah'n'es of cornstructiomtand combination otparts hereinaiter more fully described and ilnaily pointedoutintheclaimsheretoappended.

neierrinztothedrawing torminaapartoithistiomwhereinlihecharactersoirei'erencedemtesimilsrpartsthrouzhouttheseveralviews:

l 'imlisaverticalsectionalviewoiaeonventional type liahter showing my appliedthereto.

l 'igJisatopplanviewotsuchaliahter.

Fla. 3 is a perspective view of my improved wlckreceivina tube. I

Fis.4isapenpectiveviewoiape riorated metallicblankbeiorebeincformedintoawick rlgbisasectionalviewtahenon'lineHot m.i,andshowinsthemeetinasldeedgeeoithe tubeasoverlappinseachother.

showink-the tubeappliedtoawicknossleprolectlonandas notoverlaml naeachother.

Fig.7isamodiiicsfionshowingihe wick asanintolraliilrioftbewicknoale.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to rigureslandzitwillbethatlhave illustrated a conventimal type of pocket lighter, which is designated :enerally'as A. The lighter,v is illustrated as com'prkim; a'bottomwall 1 provided with a removable 'plug 2, a top wall 3 andatubularbodyi'securedintheusualmanner at its endstothetopand'bottom walls, such as by the sweating process, to provide the lighter casehaving the fuel chamber 4' within which cotton5ispackedbyinsertionthroughthep1u8lo .openinadandthromhwhichopeninstheusual IueLasIorinstanc'e asoIineJsaIsopouredinto the fuel chamber to be ahaorbedby the cotton filler, 5. The lighter a holder 7 for a iiint or pyrophori element 8 against which a serrated spar-kin: element) engages for rotation thereazainst through the medium of a finger manipulated wheel 10. The lighter is also shown as having a pivotally supported flame snuiier 11, theend l2 oiwhichis toiit over theupper end of a wick male 13, the lower projecting the fuel chamber 0! the lighter cas.e.-as clearly shown in H8. 1'. '30

In carryins out the aim of my present invention, .I employ a blank 01' suitable perforated sheet metal, designated B, preferably very thin in gauge thickness, as clearly shown in Pig. 4, such sideedlesdesianated 18and 19 overlapped, clearlyshowninl'ig.3,sothatthetubecan,ii 4

diflerent or various dithat .imless the wick tube was formed could be expanded diametrically at would not be able to lit the on of diflerent makes of lighters, 5 as stated, are of various diameters. tubewas not. split so as to be capable oi expanded at one or both ends, it'is apparent, the tube would fit but one ,size of wick proiection 14, which would not be practical, especial- 58 ly for repair jobs,and if the tube is used inthe original construction of the lighter, it would result in added cost to provide a non-expansible tube, either from the standpoint of providing a non split tube with'perforations or soldering the meeting edges of a tube formed from perforated sheet stock by rolling same.

The wick tube 16 is disposed within the fuel chamber of the lighter casing and the upper end thereof has a friction slip fit with projection 14 of the wick male 13, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The tube 16, it is apparent, is thus disposed between the upper or top member 3 of the cas n and the bottom 1 thereof and is held against lateral displacement due to its slip connection with the nozzle projection 14 with the lower end of the tube resting on the'bottom I of the lighter casing. v

As shown in Fig. 1, the bottom wall 1 of the casing is provided with ascrew threaded plug 20 which serves as a closure for an opening 21 directly below and in alignment with the wick tube 16. This closure plug 20 may, or may not be used, as desired, but where it is employed, the wick tube 16 can be removed when it is desired to put a new wick 22 intothe tube. The plug 20 may, or may not be provided with a lug 23 on its upper face for entrance into the lower end of the wick tube 16. Likewise, if the screw plug is not employed, the bottom wall of. the casing may be provided with this lug, or protuberance, if so desired. Its only purpose is to further prevent displacement of the wick tube between the top and bottom walls of the lighter casing.

It is apparent, from Fig. 1, of the drawing, that the wick 22 does not extend out of the lower end of the wick tube 16 and into the fuel chamber of the casing to become bent over the lower end thereof, or to become entangled with the cotton packing within the fuel chamber of the lighter casing. Thus the upper end of the'wick which passes through and out of the wick nozzle can be easily pulled out beyond the upper end of the wick nozzle as it becomes burnt oif adjacent the upper end of the wick nozzle.

In a tube of the character described, the wick can be cramped into the tube 16, if so desired, thus permitting a length of wick being cramped into a space which is relatively shorter than the length of the wick, and at no time can the wick be caught, bent or kinked over the lower end of the tube 16, making it hard and sometimes impossible to pull it out through the upper end of the wick nozzle as it becomes burnt off at the nozzle end thereof.

It is apparent that the openings 17 of the tube 16 permit fuel to pass from within the fuel chamber of the lighter easing into contact with all of that portion of the wick within the tube to move by capillary attraction to the upper end of the wick confined within the wick nozzle and the upper extremity of the wick which projects above the upper end of the wick nozzle.

While I have described the perforated wick tube as being formed of sheet metal, it is obvious that it could be made of any other suitable materiai which could withstand the action or elect of gasoline.

From the modification shown in Fig. I, it is apparent, that the perforated wick tube designated 16' may be an integral extension of the wick nozzle 13, but in such instance, the tube 16' will extend to the bottom wall of the lighter casing, just as the wick tube 16 does, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the lower end of the wick cannot enter the fuel chamber of the lighter case.

Themany advantages of the herein described invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

From the foregoing description, it is evident that a simple device for this purpose has been disclosed, but it is to be understood that I do not desire to restrict, or limit myself to the very details of the construction shown and described, which is merely illustrative, it being obvious that changes, not involving the exercise of invention, may be made without conflicting or departing from the-spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims. i

What I claim is:

1. A lighter having, in combination, a case body, atop closure therefor, a bottom closure therefor, a wick nozzle secured to the top closure, a portion of said nozzle insertable through an opening in the top closure and projecting into the therefor, a wick nozzle secured to the top closure,

a portion of said nozzle insertable through an opening in the top closure and projecting into the casing body, a perforated wick tube expansiblc in diameter supported and held in position within the casing body by the inwardly projecting end of the wick nozzle with which the upper end of the tube has a slip over friction fit and a. screw threaded plug closing an opening in the bottom closure which plug when removed from the bottom closure permits insertion of the wick tube into the lighter case and the removal thereof therefrom.

3. A lighter having, in combination, a case body, a top closure therefor, a bottom closure therefor, a wick nozzle secured to the top closure, a portion of said nozzle insertable through an opening in the top closure and projecting into the casing body, a perforated wick tube expansible in diameter supported and held in position within the casing body by the inwardly projecting end of the .wick nozzle with which the upper end of the tube has a slip ov'er friction lit and a screw threaded plug closing an opening in the bottom closure upon which the lower end of the wick tube LOUIS C. BECK.

, rests. 

